Like its cousin, the Dales, the Fell Pony is a solid and stoic trotter, used under saddle and in harness. The Fell has a refined and almost regal appearance, especially for a pony. The hooves are well-formed and the strong back legs, with a breath of feathering, lead up to powerful and muscular hindquarters. The body of a Fell is deep, exhibiting good girth and the withers, or shoulders, are nicely sloped.

The Fell has a distinctly small and refined head – it is chiseled and leads down to a tapered muzzle. The Fell's cultivated look is beautifully accented by its brown and black coloring, giving it an often striking bearing.

The Fell is a versatile pony and was used for packing and also as a popular child's riding pony. Because of its beautiful conformation and solid action, the Fell is also often used as a cross to produce competition horses or hunters, and was a foundation for the Hackney Pony.

Along with the Dales Pony, the Fell Pony originated in the north of England. They are descended from the Galloways, the mount of Scottish drovers and border drivers who brought their stock into the region either through conquest or trade.

The Fell is sometimes called the Brough Hill Pony because of its association with the infamous Brough Hill Fair. The Fair, started in 1330, was the main venue for the sale of the Fell Pony along with numerous other cattle, sheep, and horse breeds.

Today, a few Fell Ponies still live on the Cumbrian fells, where graze in small herds. Their numbers are rapidly declining and the Fell Pony is on the Endangered List of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Its caretakers are the Fell Pony Society, a group of breed fanatics who have taken on the fostering and care of this historic breed.

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